Epic+Poetry

Topic
toc Epic Poetry- Heroism

Common Core Standards
Identify transitional words or phrases that make text cohesive (e.g., finally, in addition, and in contrast) Use strategies such as discussing with others, reading guides and summaries, and reading aloud to assist in comprehension Students state an opinion or present a judgment by developing a thesis and providing supporting evidence, arguments, and details. Students write and share personal reactions to experiences, events, and observations, using a form of social communication. Students recognize the use of protocols and traditional practices in public speaking. Students read, view, and interpret texts and performances in every medium from a wide variety of authors, subjects, and genres (e.g., short stories, novels, plays, film and video productions, poems, and essays): Students read, view, and respond independently to literary works that represent a range of social, historical, and cultural perspectives. Students compare a film, video, or stage version of a literary work with the written version. **Performance Indicator - ELA2.09.RE1.08:** Students interpret multiple levels of meaning in text. **Performance Indicator - ELA2.09.RE1.09:** Students recognize relevance of literature to personal events and situations.
 * Performance Indicator - ELA.09-12.RE.07:**
 * Performance Indicator - ELA.09-12.RE.09:**
 * Performance Indicator - ELA3.09.WR2.01:**
 * Performance Indicator - ELA4.09.WR2.03:**
 * Performance Indicator - ELA3.09.LI3.06:**
 * Performance Indicator - ELA2.09.RE1.01:**
 * build background by activating prior knowledge through questioning what they already know about the form in which the story is presented and the period in which it was written
 * Performance Indicator - ELA2.09.RE1.02:**
 * Performance Indicator - ELA2.09.RE1.05:**

Suggested Student Objectives

 * Identify and explain the elements of an epic poem
 * identify and explain the characteristics of an epic hero
 * analyze the relationship between myths or legends and epic poetry
 * examine the historical context of literary works
 * compare and contrast how related themes may be treated in different genres (ex: epic poetry and contemporary nonfiction)
 * hone effective listening skills during oral presentations and class discussions

Suggested Additional Readings
__Stories__ //Mythology// by Edith Hamilton

__Poetry__ //The Epic of Gilgamesh// //The Odyssey// and //The Iliad// (Homer) //The Aeneid// (Virgil) //The Lotus Eaters// (Alfred, Lord Tennyson) //The Ramayana// (Valmiki) excerpts Siren Song (Margaret Atwood) The Epic of Sundiata (Djeli Mamadou Kouyaté)

__Informational Texts__ //Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming// (Jonathan Shay) "The Devious Narrator of //The Odyssey//" (Scott Richardson, The Classical Journal, Vol.101, No. 4, pp. 337-359)

__Art and Media__ [|The Art of Ancient Kingdoms] Greece, Relief Plaque (ca. 450 BCE) India, //Folio from The Ramayana of Valmiki: Rama shatters the Trident of the Demon Viradha// (1597-1605) "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" (Joel Coen, 2000) (Movie) "Odysseus in America" (Movie)

Resource Links
The Ramayana in translation by Valmiki Folio from The Ramayana of Valmiki Article on Jonathan Shay, psychiatrist who won a MacArthur Fellowship for work with combat veterans) Film trailers of "Odysseus in America" Second Lieutenant Kelley Victor Gasper's blog on The New York Times web site

Activities
1) Write a poem or prose narrative about a journey you or someone you know has taken, using epic similes, epithets and allusions. 2) The class will Interview a veteran, posting interview questions on the class blog prior to class interview. Students will use interview responses to construct a Prezi on heroic traits and post-traumatic stress in soldiers in warfare, comparing and contrasting characters from The Odyssey and the modern veteran. 3) Students will read and discuss an excerpt from //The Ramayana// or //The Aeneid.// In groups, they will construct a Venn Diagram comparing/contrast epic poetry traits in both //The Odyssey// and //The Ramayana//. 4) Students will watch the film "O Brother Where Art Thou" and "Odysseus in America" (film clips) and take notes on characterization, themes and literary allusions to //The Odyssey//. Class will discuss whether this rendering of an epic in another medium is or is not "faithful" to the original. Students must provide specific evidence for their opinions. Students will write a two paragraph synopsis of their arguments on class blog. 5) Speech- Students will select a one-minute passage from //The Odyssey// and recite it from memory. Include an introduction that states what the excerpt is and why is it significant as an example of an important literary tradition. 6) Select someone you know or someone famous in contemporary history, and write an argument that explains why you think this person exemplifies the characteristics of an epic hero. Be sure to include at least three specific characteristics and offer examples from the person's "journey" to support your opinion. 7) Grammar and Usage- select three paragraphs from one of the informational texts listed. Highlight all the conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs. Identify what kind of conjunctions they are, and explain when and why conjunctive adverbs are used instead of conjunctions. 8) Art Analysis- compare the Greek relief and the page from //The Ramayana//. Both show scenes from epic stories. How do they convey heroism? How do you know who the main characters are? Without knowing any additional information about these images, provide some insight into what you see. How is the artist telling these stories? 9) Advanced Students- read teacher selected excerpts from Richardson's essay "The Devious Narrator of The Odyssey". Students write two paragraph analysis of Richardson's argument and how the depiction of the relationship between the audience (you) and Homer (the author) influenced your reading of //The Odyssey//. 10) Students research customs/warfare/men and women relationships for ancient Greece, ancient India, and modern America. Students in groups will construct a digital newspaper for chosen culture.

Assessments
1) Write an informative/explanatory essay in which you compare **the treatment of the theme of heroism** in //The Odyssey// with its treatment in one of the contemporary nonfiction accounts and in a work of art viewed in class. State your thesis clearly and include at least three pieces of evidence to support it. 2) Write a compare/contrast essay detailing the **epic hero characterization** of Ulysseus Everett McGill from "O Brother where art thou?", Odysseus from //The Odyssey// and a contemporary soldier from one of the informational texts. State your thesis clearly and include at least three pieces of evidence to support it.